November 2008
Time flies, when you don’t want to fly
11/30/08
It’s crazy how fast this week went by. Now were on the countdown to the X-mas holidays. The positive side of being really busy is it’s kept mind off of my plane flight.
I know I making more of this than I should, but believe me, to me it’s no joke:
DO YOU EVER FEEL AFRAID TO FLY ? – YOUR NOT ALONE
- Do you or someone you know cringe or suffer anxiety panic at the expectation of FLYING?
- Did you notice the serious decline in air travel after the events of 9/11?
- Fear of Flying is listed on the Phobia List of Top 10 most popular phobia’s.
- Many famous people share that fear of flying, such as Jennifer Aniston, Woody Allen, John Madden and the Rockpile Ranter to name a few.
This very real fear can be disastrous for the person suffering. It can prevent them from going on vacations or visiting family and friends, and it can cripple the career of a businessperson by preventing him or her from traveling on work-related business.
A fear of flying is a level of anxiety so great that it prevents a person from travelling by air, or causes great distress to a person when he or she is compelled to travel by air. The most extreme manifestations can include panic attacks or vomiting at the mere sight or mention of an aircraft or air travel.
See, this crap ain’t no joke people. I know it’s all in my mind, but it’s my mind, and it’s not like I control that either.
It’s that little guy inside, and he has his own agenda. To be honest, I’m not afraid of flying, I’m afraid of crashing. There is a difference.
I’ll be at the Nuggets game tonight against the Rockets. I’ll try to get that entry posted by Monday evening.
I fly out to Chicago on Tuesday, and I’ll be returning on Friday evening.
I’ll have a computer with me, but I’m not sure If my hotel will have free internet access.
If I can blog, I will.
I’ve never been to Chicago. When I get back home (knock on wood), I’ll give you a tour of the City through my eyes.
Be ready!
Let me throw this out there.
If you feel the need to vent or have your own personal rant you would love to get off of your chest….
Let my comment section be your playground.
Sometimes we all need to get something off of our chest.
Better to do it early than let it escalate.
Maybe I can help or offer some advice…D
If I can’t dazzle you with my brilliance, I might be able to baffle you with my bullsheet.
I appreciate you…D
Melo, not such a nice fellow
11/28/08
Hope you all had a great T-Day. Mine was superb.
Thank you all for the kind comments. The bloggers who habitate this sphere really are the salt of the earth. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to shoot a comment back to everyone, I did try.
Hornets vs Nuggets
15,563 people decided to be:
“L-TryptoFans” and showed up to “The Can”, despite the urge to take a nice long nap on the couch.
You know it’s a good day when you walk into the Pepsi Center, and this is how you’re greeted.
The ladies were nice enough to personally autograph a photo for me.
Chucky Atkins about to get hit in the head with a basketball during practice.
If you look hard you might see Nene in the background.
Below you see the official game of “Here we go round the Mulberry bush” played before the start of every Nuggets game. You can’t argue tradition.
JR Smith was a freggin madman last night. I had the feeling he was out there trying to prove something to George Karl.
Coach Karl had benched him the previous night for showing up late for practice.
Remember, according to Allen Iverson,
“It’s just practice”
But George Karl don’t play that way.
Especially when it comes to JR Smith, they have some history.
JR proved he was “The Man”, scoring a season-high 32 points.
Nice job JR, this dude can ball.
Do us a favor though, set your alarm clock 30 minutes earlier, and that should take care of it.
I want that clock, It’s cool.
Want to know why they call Chris Andersen ”The Birdman”? Picture the basketball net as his nest.
He flew for 9 points. This was his first game back after missing 9 games due to fractured ribs suffered while falling out of his tree.
K-Mart came out before the game started and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
K-Mart only scored 6 points with 6 rebounds.
I think he is the new leader of the Nuggets.
Much more so than Carmello the “face of the team”.
Look at the vertical lift K-Mart gets on this block.
Former Denver Mayor, Wellington Webb showed up to give the Nuggets some love.
First time I’ve ever seen this guy in person, he’s a big dude.
Chauncey Billups seemed a tad off this game (Too much turkey)?
He missed a crucial 3 pointer in the last quarter. He finished the game with 12 points, 5 assists and was 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Just a little under his average.
The Nuggets are 9-3 since his arrival in Denver. It’s working, give it a little more time.
Chauncey, I bet it was nice to be back home in Colorado for Thanksgiving for a change, huh?
Carmello Anthony finished with 24 points, best game this dude has had in a while.
I used to be a huge Melo fan, but now,…not so much. I have my reasons.
I respect the man’s skills, but I do believe he has lost touch with his base.
Let me just say that when I am trying to get an autograph, I am extremely respectful. I really appreciate when a player takes the time out of his day to do that for me.
I had several (11), opportunities to go backstage after the Nuggets games last season.
Not once in those eleven games did I see Melo walk backstage after a home game to sign autographs and embrace the fans who so patiently wait for him after each game.
As I was leaving the Pepsi Center heading to my car, I saw a father with his two daughters standing on the corner where the players exit with their cars.
It was freggin cold outside last night, those are some hardcore fans.
While I was walking past them, I saw the small family starting to get excited. They started shouting “Melo, Melo”, so I looked back and saw Melo’s car (by the way, sweet ride Melo).
He stopped at the stop sign, then peeled out. Leaving the three of them standing there sad, cold, and autograph-less. Other than me and the family, there was not another person in sight.
There was no danger. He could have taken the 30 seconds and made a families Thanksgiving day extremely memorable. Instead, he ignored them and sped away. I no longer want his autograph.
Melo, here’s how it is, Ten minutes dude.
That’s all it takes, ten minutes after the game, before you split.
Stop by, make an appearance, then jet out the back door.
Everybody’s happy, and you did the right thing.
How hard is that?
How could you drive by that family and ignore them like that?
Have you no heart or feelings? Who inspired you as a kid?
Did your childhood idols ingore you, or sneak out the back to avoid you? How did that make you feel?
You need to take a step back and regroup. Realize exactly where you are, and HOW YOU GOT HERE.
Never forget how lucky you are, and come to realize exactly what the catalyst is that enables you to do what you do here (Denver fans)
.
Besides, you owe us for that dumbazz DUI thing you got yourself into the end of last season, remember?
I’ll give you one more chance man (because I’m cool like that), you need to show some DENVER FAN LOVE.
Give a little something besides money. You can’t deny what I said Melo, because I witnessed it first hand.
Melo, you’ve been Ranted. Learn from it dude, sign a few autographs and I’ll shut the hell up.
The Hornets really made this an exciting game. It seemed the Nuggets would rally and tie things up, then the Hornets would take it back.
Chris Paul got his groove late in the game and led the Hornets scoring 22 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds.
James Posey sealed the Nuggets fate hitting the go-ahead 3-point-shot with only 19.1 seconds left to clinch the win over the Nuggets 105-101.
Here’s a quote from Posey “I have confidence in making shots,” Posey said I’ve been in those situations before.”
Yea Posey, your my freggin hero, your plane’s ready, you ain’t gone yet? 
Next game for me?
Sunday vs the Rockets.
Thanks for wasting some time with me. Did you like my pictures? I’m getting better, wish my camera was…D
A few things to say about T-Day
11/26/08
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !
Need a laugh? Click on this:
I’m a lucky guy and I know it.
So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here’s a small list of things I’m thankful for:
I’m thankful that I live in a Country that I’m free (for the most part). I’m thankful for the servicemen and Veterans who served, or are serving this country.
I’m thankful that I have a beautiful wife who loves me, and lets me be me. Sometimes that’s a lot, at times I can be bigger than life and she deals.
We have balance together.
I’m thankful that I have three healthy children (two at home and one grown), who are the light of my life, and are growing up right before my eyes.
I’m thankful that I have a three-year-old grandson Mason, who I will hopefully get to see this Christmas (Thank you Paul and Brie).
I’m thankful for that more than you know.
This is Mason————->
I’m thankful my wife and I have jobs, a nice house, a couch, two Chinese Pugs and a Puggle, two cars that run, 
neighbors that don’t bother me, my bass guitar, a
working computer, comfortable shoes, 1977 VW bus, a very cool circle of friends that I have been tight with for twenty years.
I’m thankful my mom and pops are active, healthy and enjoying retirement.
I’m thankful for my mother and father-in-law, who happen to be the coolest people on the planet. Thank you (for everything you do), and for always being there to help, and for treating me with respect since day one. You’re the best in-laws a son-in-law could ask for.
I’m thankful for all the new friends that I made at Coors Field this past baseball season.
I’m thankful that other than the ” First Row Regulars” in the Pavilion at Coors Field…Dan, Robert, Danny..etc I snagged the most baseballs in the bleachers behind them.
That’s actually not a proven fact, but if you think (and can prove), you snagged more baseballs than me this season, at Coors Field, I’ll retract my statement and
give you some props.
I’m thankful I’m not lactose intolerant, cause I likes me some honey nut cheerios.
I’m thankful I have MLBlogs.com in my life. That way when I want to be serious I can, or when I want to rip the world a new one, I can do that, or when I just want to write about a really good batting practice followed by a come from behind Rockies win, I can do that too.
I’m thankful my opportunities as an MLBlogger are endless.
I’m also thankful for the “mad love” that MLBlogs.com has given the Rockpile Rant this year.
Mark and whomever else is behind the scenes,
thanks, I notice…D
I’m thankful for the readers I’ve had all season, and the new one’s that have recently come aboard.
Without you to interpret, they’re just words.
I tell you what, I must be softening a little bit, because the more I think about how thankful I am for the things in my life, it’s choking me up a bit.
As I said above, I’m a VERY lucky guy.
<–Not my family, too skinny.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
Hug your family, eat some bird and pie, play a few board games, and have way too much fun.
Do something nice for someone who maybe isn’t in the best of circumstances right now.
It will come back to you, I promise.
Me, I’ll be eating my bird early as I’ll be making an appearance at the Nuggets Game against the Hornets…If your going to be there, let me know. I’ll come over and say hey, take your picture and make you famous.
I’m cool like that, be safe out there…D
In with the old, looking for gold..Mystery Player #5
11/25/08
Oh hell yea, Baylor is back.
I always liked Baylor. I’m not saying that when he left the Rockies it wasn’t his time, because it was.
You can say what you want about his record with the Rockies, 440-469. Don Baylor is a good dude with a great attitude.
Now I’ve got a chance at snaggin an autograph from “The Don”. I have listened to several radio interviews with Baylor over the last year, and he had expressed interest in returning to the Rockies in some capacity.
Here’s a quote from Clint Hurdle.
“We didn’t do this as a feel-good thing, we did it because [Baylor] is the right man to help out our offense. I know I learned from him as his hitting coach. His experience fits for us as a former manager, hitting coach and a player. From team accomplishments and individual accomplishments, he’s very special.
There’s a presence to Don that’s very evident, and I feel he has a sense of unfulfilled business here in Colorado.”
I personally believe it was a feel-good thing, but I also believe Baylor is the right man for the job. So it’s a win/win situation for the Rockies.
The seasoned Baylor was hired as the new batting coach, along with some other new meat.
Included in this mass hiring were, Rich Dauer (third base coach), Jim Wright (bullpen coach), and Jim Tracy (bench coach).
The new strength and conditioning coach will be Brian Jordan. Brian has spent the last nine years as the strength and conditioning coordinator for the Rock
WHO THE HELL IS THIS?
MYSTERY PLAYER # 5
Only one clue today. This player’s initials spell out a mode of transportation. This is an easy one.
I’ll be “back” in a little bit to ”see” how you’re doing…D
11/26/08 5:00 AM
Ok, one guy figured out who the Mystery Player # 5 is. It was Jere, but he wouldn’tt say who it was so someone else could have a chance.
Nobody else got it.
The Mystery Player was James Edwin Tracy, the Rockies new bench coach.
His initials spell JET, which is a mode of transportation.
Thanks for playing…D
Any other mud is a dud
11/25/08
Most baseball fans know why the Umpires rub down six dozen baseballs with mud before each game. It removes the slickness and the shine.
Did you ever wonder what kind of mud they use and why? Mud is mud right? Apparently that’s not the case.
(Pictured left to right are Eddie Collins, Lena Blackburne and Ty Cobb)—————————->>>
This started in 1938 when an umpire was complaining to Lena Blackburne (third base coach for the old Philadelphia Athletics), about the poor condition of the baseballs used by the American League.
Up to this point, plain old mud to prep the baseballs.
The problem was, the mud made the ball’s cover was too soft, leaving it open for tampering.
What was needed was something to remove the shine, but not soften the cover.
It seems Blackburne took this as a personal challenge. He headed home to Burlington County and started to check the mud along the tributaries of the Delaware River. After some searching he found mud with the consistency with which he was looking for.
He headed home and took a sample to the Athletics field house. He rubbed a few baseballs with his newfound mud and voila, it worked great, didn’t smell, and it didn’t turn the baseballs black.
The umpires loved the new mud, and the Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud business was born.
Shortly thereafter, the American League adopted the marvelous mud. By the time Blackburne kicked the bucket in the 50′s every major and almost all of the minor league teams in the US were using his New Jersey Mud.
Blackburne willed his business to his buddy John Haas, who used to go with Blackburne on his mud seeking adventures. Haas then turned the business over to his son-in-law Burns Bintliff who has since passed it onto his son Jim. He and his family currently run the operation.
<—(This is not Jim & family)
Every July, the Bintliff’s take a voyage to the “magic mud hole” and scoop up hundreds of pounds of the Marvelous muck, storing it until spring.
Then it’s packed up sent to major, minor and independent leagues all over the country.
The consistency of the mud is described as being a cross between chocolate pudding and whipped cold cream.
Jim will neither confirm nor deny if he adds a “secret sauce” to his “magic mud”.
Other methods and muds have been tried to de-glaze the baseballs, but none of them so far have made the cut.
Now you know…D
Mystery Player Trivia # 3, who could it be?
11/23/08
I had great success with the recent Baseball Trivia test. Alex was the first one with the correct answers and won the Spilborghs autographed ball (send me your address dude).
I’m going to work on a harder one over the next few days. I just found out that I won’t be attending the Nuggets game tonight. Damn, I love being there taking pictures.
Don’t hate me for blogging a little basketball on a baseball blog.
Respect the fact that I’m keeping myself pro-active during the “off-season”.
No prizes for this round, I’ll think of something cool for the “tougher challenge” coming up soon.
If you win this one, send me a picture, I’ll brag you up and make you famous.
Post your answer/guess in the comments section of this entry, so the world can see you did it first.
MYSTERY PLAYER TRIVIA #3
Ok here is my little teaser, see if you can tell me who the player below is. Also, tell me his “claim to fame involving a statistical tie with another player”.
The only clue I’ll give you is one of the letters in one of his names is “k” and maybe the picture to the left.
Good Luck !
Attention: I have a winner.
Jere Smith
Here is a link to his blog:
He posted his answer in comment section.
This is Jere as a kid??
Leon Kessling “Red” Ames.
1911 T205 card.
Played for the Reds, same as his nickname.
He also was nicknamed “Wild thing”.
This dude knows his stuff (or he’s a master googler).
Either way, nice job man.
A bunch of readers were working on this one.
Do you want more? Harder, easier?…I’m game…D
Think you can you best my test ?
11/22/08
I’ve always enjoyed reading about history (when I have time). Lately I’ve been on a baseball
history kick. If you read this blog you know every now and then I pop in a few trivia teasers.
Today I’m going to kick it up a few notches. I’ts going to to be a little more challenging. If you can nail this, there will be a sweet reward for your hard work.
The first person that can correctly answer all the questions, and email the answers to therockpileranter@yahoo.com, wins.
<——You will receive this autographed Ryan Spilborghs baseball. Please do not post answers in the comments section, although you can ask questions there.
Also, post a comment informing me you have the answers before you email them to me. That way we have a visable timestamp.
This baseball was autographed in front of me, for me, by Ryan.
I’ll throw in a cube too, because I’m cool like that.
Here link to the blog entry from June 22, 2008, the day I got this ball autographed:
Question # 1.
Todd Helton, Lou Gehrig and Chuck Klein all have something that they were able to accomplish in more than one season. What did they accomplish, and how did Todd Helton one-up these fellas?
Question # 2
Who is the only switch-hitter to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in a post-season game?
Question # 3
Of these ten players, who has won the most batting titles?
Eddie Collins
Sam Crawford
Paul Molitor
Joe Jackson (shoeless)
Jim Bottomley
Babe Herman
Leon Allen Goslin
Enos Slaughter
Lloyd Waner
Sam Rice
Question # 4
Whos silhouette is used on MLB’s logo?
Question # 5
Who was the first professional baseball player to become a play-by-play announcer? What year?
Question # 6 The final question..It’s a two-parter.
Who is/was the tallest player to ever play second base? Second part, who is/was the tallest second baseman to ever play an entire season?
I want player names and team names.
Good Luck with this…D
Rockies add a sextette and the roster’s set
Rockpile Rant was ranked #11 for the week of November 14-20..Almost there !
The Rockies tweaked and set their 40-man roster yesterday. They added six players and sent one south a few miles.
The new players are, right-handers Samuel Deduno, Shane Lindsay and Ryan Mattheus. The three infielders are, Chris Nelson, Hector Gomez and Eric Young Jr.
Catcher Edwin Bellorin is now a Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
Oh well, at least he’ll get to play now.
Eric Young Jr, this is the dude I want to see in Tucson next February.
He just recently won the AFL batting title
With 31 games played, he batted .430 with 37 runs scored. Young had 20 RBI’s, 20 stolen bases, and hit 5 home runs (two of which were grand slams).
EY Jr. grew up with his mother, so he didn’t get to spend his entire childhood hanging around a pro-ballpark like a lot of people think.
Jr must have
been a quick study during the time he did get to spend with his pops.
The Rockies need the energy this kid brings to the field and they know it.
Unless he’s injured, I think you’ll see Young playing at Coors next season.
Anybody disagree?
Know what’s cool? Rookies are always at batting practice, and this dude can smack a ball.
That’s right, I’m already planning.
Take a good look at Mr. Einsten here. Then stand up, turn around, walk back about 20 feet and look at the picture again. Blondes do have more fun.
Ok, try this one. How many legs does this elephant have?
If you get this one let me know.
Look down, how’s this for a road trip?
Be careful, hang onto your cap.
Stare at the girl in the middle for about fifteen seconds.
Ok, here is my final gotcha of the day. It you stare at this picture long enough you might actually see people on a boat.
There are only 98 days until the Mobile Blogging Unit is mobile, mobiling down south.
(This is not the Mobile Blogging Unit——–>)
The MLBlogosphere has been filling up quickly with some serious baseball snaggers.
I need to get down there and show these guys I’m one step ahead of them. (no offense, I love you all).
You know, prove to the blogosphere and reassure myself that I’m not just all good looks and snazzy blog name.
Not a whole lot going on in Rockies land today. I have to blog something or I get restless and my hands cramp up. It keeps me regular.
Remember people, there’s always a joke there, sometimes you just have to find it…Good Luck !
Thanks for “hittin” the Rant…..Remember your click here really counts.
Did you count that last one Mark??….D
You can’t tell me it’s free
11/20/08
Want a free Dr. Pepper?
I guess somewhere in the Dr. Pepper laboratories, someone opened their mouth and made a bet stating there was no way Guns and Roses new CD “Chinese Democracy” would be released before years end.
If the CD hit the stores by the cutoff of years end, everyone in America would get a “free” Dr. Pepper.
Well it was, fourteen years in the making, and it goes on sale this weekend. You can bet I’ll be knocking over ladies in their mid-forties with way too much makeup on, sporting supertight low cut jeans to get my copy…NOT !
Please retired rockers, not all 80′s hair bands need to re-unite.
Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper’s web site.
You can redeem those bad boys until Feb 28th, 2009.
(Axl Rose, dude what happend to you?——–>)
Ok here we go, I don’t get the Dr. Pepper tie-in with Guns and Roses. Why would they give a schit when or if ever the Guns and Roses CD was released?
Why would they venture into such uncharted territory? What do they have to gain from such a gamble?
It’s simple,
free A-D-V-E-R-T-I-S-I-N-G. The word F-R-E-E attracts people. I’ll admit, it catches my eye.
It’s a brilliant idea, think about it. A soda costs roughly ten cents to make, just a guess.
In a country as populated as the USA, they’re bound to be numerous Dr. Pepper “virgins”, who will redeem the coupon, drink the stuff, like it, and get hooked.
Bam,…small investment paid for.
Here is a statement from Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper’s vice president of marketing.
“We never thought this day would come, but now that it’s here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper’s on us.”
Yea right, let me bend over and move to the right a little bit because the smoke he’s blowing in my direction is missing its intended spot.
So lets see,…..they’re gaining new customers because the free soda promotion creates a ”buzz” with all of the free publicity (so by writing this I’m part of the hype, I realize this).
Plus, how many people will actually download the coupon?
That by the way, is genius in itself. We pay for the paper and the ink = zero coupon expense for Dr. Pepper.
Finally, how many people will pay for the gas to drive somewhere to redeem it?
See,.. their investment is minimal compared to the potential rewards. I hope not, but I believe I’m starting to see an ugly trend.
Give that guy who thought up this whole free Dr. Pepper thing a free Chalupa, but give him a code and make him go online to redeem it. Then tell him he has to do it between 4pm and 6pm.
Then ask him how much he enjoyed his “free chalupa”.
Let me officially say I’m tired of free schit that ain’t free.
Free is, I casually walk into the 7-11, open the cooler, take out a Dr. Pepper, walk past the clerk and say, “thanks man, this one’s on the Dr”.
We all know that isn’t going to happen.
You can’t play me like that Dr. Pepper or any other company considering a similar promotion.
I see through it. Please stop this misleading crap now, it dumbens (that’s not a misspelling..it’s my word) America.
No need to speed up the process.
America, you don’t need anything for free. It feels much better inside when you work for it.
Not paying for your stuff outright is what has got this country all F’ked up right now..
Want something free? Go hug someone, that’s truely free and it doesn’t use ink or kill a tree.
Dr. Pepper, you have been Ranted…D
Followed a dream, I want a job with my team
Well I did it. I officially applied for two positions within the Colorado Rockies organization. 
Why you ask?
Honestly, I love my current job. I would be content working there until I retire in 20-25 years, but it’s not my passion.
You only go around life once and I just have to give this a shot. WTF right?
(Just a cartoon here, not actual fact–>)
Plus, these are part-time seasonal positions, so I could do both jobs
I applied for the Stats Stringer and Pitch F/X Operator openings for the Colorado Rockies.
The Stats Stringer job is fascinating to me. I’m totally a numbers guy.
Major League Baseball Advanced Media or MLBAM uses “stringers” who use a laptop and specific software to enter pitch-by-pitch data for every baseball game.
These guys are given a press pass and a spot in the press box, where they can focus on the game.
Each and every play is broken into a series of codes, which are used to document the game.
Stats stringer would be perfect for me. How hard would it be to blog about a game you documented every single play on?
See what I mean, I’m talking serious head full of stats.
The Rockies are also looking for a Sports Reporter. That was the job I wanted to apply for most of all. My problem is passion, desire, and life long dream are not listed anywhere on the qualifications for the job.
It also seems that I don’t quite meet all of the qualifications,…such is life.
Yep, alI I have is my life experience, and my passion for my sport.
I’m an acquired taste, not exactly for everyone, kind of like curling but with a cool factor.
I’ll just keep doing what I do and maybe someday someone who knows someone will dig my schit and have a use for the Ranter’s banter.
Maybe I’ll be content on being the number one fan blog on MLBLOGS.com? You have to set goals and shoot for them.
My wife called me the Perez Hilton of MLB..minus the gay part.
(Not that there is anything wrong with that), CYA.
It’s not a mid-live crisis, more of a mid-life realization.
Either way, I’ll continue to roll on. I’m already a lucky guy and I know it.
Thanks for your click…D
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